LSU football changes stance on defensive coordinator, New Orleans Saints might do the same

So long to the co-defensive coordinator experiment at LSU and, obviously, good riddance to a process that only supported the theory that when a team has two people occupying such a vital position, then it really doesn't have a good one.

John Chavis, late of Tennessee, gets to try to clean up the defensive mess that has been blamed on 2008 co-coordinators Doug Mallory and Bradley Dale Peveto, the evidence that the spill belongs to them being that Peveto accepted the head coaching job at Northwestern State and Mallory will take a demotion of he stays at LSU.

LSU's defenders spent much of the season appearing to not have a clue what they were supposed to be doing and how they were supposed to be doing it. Some of that falls on the players, obviously. In the end, even the best defensive coordinator can't do more than design a scheme that shows a player where he's supposed to be; after that, it's up to the player to actually defend a pass, sack a quarterback or tackle a runner.

But, just as clear, players weren't responding to what they were being taught.

And if the Tigers had the kind of trouble they had slowing conference opponents they're familiar with - only the South Carolina and Auburn offenses failed to score at least 20 points against LSU in conference play - you shudder to think what might happen Wednesday night in the Chick-fil-A Bowl, when they face Georgia Tech's triple option offense at the Georgia Dome.

True, Chavis will get the obvious benefit of inheriting the returning players who played this season. As badly as they performed this year, those guys should be better next year just for having gained experience. But it's impossible to not believe LSU won't benefit from having a singular voice to lead the unit.

One person needs to have final say, to put his stamp on the way things should be done. Sure, he'll receive suggestions from the position coaches and, of course, Chavis will have to factor in whatever suggestions Coach Les Miles will have. But two voices as a final authority is one too many. You just figure that if it was that good as a philosophy, everyone would be doing it.

AND SPEAKING OF DEFENSIVE COORDINATORS...

Is it just me, or does it seem that Saints defensive coordinator Gary Gibbs has a chance to become the Carl Smith of Sean Payton's staff?

You do remember Smith, Jim Mora's offensive coordinator? Of course you do - curly-haired guy, mild-mannered in his dealings with the media, publicly respected and supported by players and the head coach, scourge of the NFL earth in the eyes of Saints fans.

Mora steadfastly clung to his embattled coordinator, while fans stewed over Smith's schemes and playcalling and deduced that Smith - and, often, Smith alone - was responsible for the games the Saints lost. Mounds of criticism, and what appeared to be mountains of supporting evidence, did not move Mora to make a change.

Gibbs is facing the same crush of criticism over his defense, which isn't holding up its end of the bargain when compared to the Saints offense. Payton insists Gibbs' defense isn't doing much different scheme-wise from what other defenses in the NFC South are doing. But he also doesn't deny the obvious, that the Saints are much worse at it than the others.

It speaks well of Payton's loyalty that he won't hang out Gibbs, the same as it was admirable of Mora to take as many hits for retaining Smith as Smith took for his calls. And if the problem is with the players more than it is with the schemes, Payton will be vindicated when, and if, he can bring in better players to play Gibbs' defense.

But if the problem is Gibbs, ultimately, Payton is the one who's going to pay. He shouldn't make a change for the sake of making a change or to satiate fans but, too, he can't be too stubborn to admit a mistake if one has been made, same as he would do (or should do) when a player underperforms.

Smith didn't cause Mora to lose his job. Mora's run as the most successful coach in Saints history ended with him quitting during the season, before he likely was fired at the end of it.

But Smith immediately was fired, almost before the echo of Mora's last words could waft from the building.

And at no time since has Smith, who has had three NFL jobs since being fired by the Saints, been mentioned as an offensive wizard.